BRIDGING DALLAS’ NORTH-SOUTH GAP | PROFITING OFF THE POOR

A cat burglar in the house

Douglas T. “Chase” Fonteno has made a living acquiring other people’s houses, particularly in the lowest-income neighborhoods of southern Dallas. If he had paid the legal owners or obtained their consent, his story wouldn't be remarkable. But according to official property records and Fonteno’s own statements, his empire was built in part by acquiring scores of houses without the owners’ knowledge and without paying them a dime.

Properties in play

See locations and learn more about nearly 100 properties acquired by Fonteno and his associates through various methods, including adverse possession and quitclaim deeds.

Anatomy of adverse possession

Here's an example of how Douglas T. “Chase” Fonteno’s organization selected someone else's residential property and maneuvered the ownership records to eventually reflect his company’s name as the owner. The process is complicated and multilayered.